Self-lubricating, self-healing and anti-corrosion coating with ultra-short run-in period

Abstract

Mechanical equipment serves in harsh environments and always fails due to wear and corrosion, especially at the beginning of friction operation (run-in period). A lubricating, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and self-repairing coating have been developed by combining MXene and polytetrafluoro-wax (PFW) with a water-based epoxy resin (EP). In the coating, MXene and PFW work together to form a moderately soft and hard transfer film, reducing the coefficient of friction from 0.236 to 0.009 and the run-in period from 1400 s to 7 s. In addition, the barrier properties of the MXene lamellar structure work synergistically with the phase-change capability of the PFW to provide self-healing and anti-corrosion properties. These coatings offer a new approach to the long-term protection of mechanical equipment.